Get an untraceable mobile number?

esuhl

I've just signed up to Facebook, and now it won't let me log in until I verify my identity with my mobile number. I'm not keen on the privacy implications of this. I simply don't want Facebook tracking me. (Any more than they will anyway.)

So... is there any way I can get a temporary/untraceable mobile number so that FB don't know who I am?

I don't mind buying a PAYG SIM if it's only going to cost £1 or so. Or maybe there are some clever free online services to get a "disposable" phone number?

It's all above board, I can assure you! I don't need to hide from MI5 or anything like that! I just want to keep in touch with what's happening in the village without selling my (whole) soul to Facebook. I mean... why the hell do they want my phone number anyway?! Nosy wotsits!

Cheers :beer:

Uxb

The problem with any form of "disposable" number/email address is that sometime in the future the website may sent an email/text etc to it as a condition to log into your account.

You will then be locked out of your account with no way back in as you have no further access to the phone number and/or email address.
Note that PAYG numbers are usually cancelled after 6 months of not making a chargeable call/text from them and the money on them lost.

RumRat

Hi, I was told about this a while ago, but, have never got around to trying it.
Looks like what you need..
HUSHED

kwikbreaks

All I can say is that if you are concerned about your privacy why on earth are you installing facebook?

George_Michael

kwikbreaks wrote: »

All I can say is that if you are concerned about your privacy why on earth are you installing facebook?

Providing that you know what you are doing (or if you don't, seek help from someone who does), it's possible to use Facebook without too many having privacy concerns.

Firstly, register using an anonymous email such as Yahoo or Google mail.
Then set it so that only friends can see your posts.

With the help of many Google pages, it's easy to find out how to adjust the settings to limit just about everything that can be seen by others.

Yes, Facebook can be extremely intrusive but if used with caution, it doesn't have to be this way.

angryparcel

George_Michael wrote: »

Providing that you know what you are doing (or if you don't, seek help from someone who does), it's possible to use Facebook without too many having privacy concerns.

Firstly, register using an anonymous email such as Yahoo or Google mail.
Then set it so that only friends can see your posts.

With the help of many Google pages, it's easy to find out how to adjust the settings to limit just about everything that can be seen by others.

Yes, Facebook can be extremely intrusive but if used with caution, it doesn't have to be this way.

you missed 1 vital bit of info that people fall foul of.

USE A STRONG PASSWORD

Hedgehog99

I just refuse to have anything to do with facecrook. I don't trust them an inch. If a company relies on it for communicating with customers and does not make its site publicly available, they lose my custom.

It makes me angry that something so superficial and mindless as facecrook makes its inventor billions while other far more worthwhile jobs in the world attract a pittance. The things we value need a re-think.

shaun_from_Africa

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

It makes me angry that something so superficial and mindless as facecrook makes its inventor billions while other far more worthwhile jobs in the world attract a pittance. The things we value need a re-think.

That's life and it's always been the way that if someone is providing a service or skill that has appeal and for which others are willing to pay for, those people will get paid depending on the number of payers/users.
The only difference nowadays is that because of the internet and the worldwide availability of TV, the number of users has increased massively.

After all, who would have thought it possible that a moneysaving website could possibly be sold by its founder for £85+ million less than 10 years after being set up!

50Twuncle

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

I just refuse to have anything to do with facecrook. I don't trust them an inch. If a company relies on it for communicating with customers and does not make its site publicly available, they lose my custom.

It makes me angry that something so superficial and mindless as facecrook makes its inventor billions while other far more worthwhile jobs in the world attract a pittance. The things we value need a re-think.

Facebook paid only £4k tax in 2014 and then charged HMRC, £27k for advertising on the site !!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/04/facebook_tax_promises_pay_millions_more_uk/

George_Michael

50Twuncle wrote: »

Facebook paid only £4k tax in 2014 and then charged HMRC, £27k for advertising on the site !!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/04/facebook_tax_promises_pay_millions_more_uk/

Provided that they acted within the law and paid the tax that they were legally required to do, I don't see anything wrong with this.
Like most individuals or businesses, they will only pay what they are required to pay and if the government allows them to channel their money through other countries and this lowers their tax liability, why wouldn't they do it?
If the government /HMRC don't like it then change the law so it can't be done.

I know that if there was a legitimate way for me to pay less income tax or VAT then I would opt to do so.

angryparcel

50Twuncle wrote: »

Facebook paid only £4k tax in 2014 and then charged HMRC, £27k for advertising on the site !!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/04/facebook_tax_promises_pay_millions_more_uk/

The would only have to pay tax on their financial dealings within the UK, so if they have a revenue of 100 billion, but only 1 million is from UK trading they only pay UK tax on the 1 million. HMRC like any other advertiser will have to pay the same advertising rates.